After adding a number of talented players including Munchie LeGaux in the days just prior to National Signing Day 2010, the UC football program pulled a rabbit out of its helmet when Kenbrell Thompkins officially became a Bearcat Wednesday.
Thompkins is considered by many to be the No. 1 junior college wide receiver in the country and had signed a letter of intent in December to play at Tennessee but never attended classes.
Not long after the ink dried on the legal document, Volunteer head coach Lane Kiffin left Knoxville to become the head coach at USC. The 6-3, 190 pound wideout with 4.4-forty speed reopened his recruitment.
Tennessee was reluctant to give the talented Thompkins a release but later relented.
After a nondescript high school career at Miami Northwestern High School which earned him a scholarship offer to only Morgan State, Thompkins blossomed at El Camino Community College catching 126 passes for 2,052 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons.
His play earned him scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, Florida, Oregon, California, UCLA and several other BCS institutions before he ultimately decided to be come a Bearcat.
Thompkins officially visited Cincinnati, Alabama, Tennessee and UCLA during the recruiting process.
Because Thompkins signed a letter of intent with Tennessee, he could not sign another national letter to attend Cincinnati. Instead, he signed grant-in-aid papers.
Since Thompkins graduated from junior college in December, he could enroll immediately at the University of Cincinnati and participate in spring football practices. He will be eligible to play in the 2010 season for the Bearcats.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100324/SPT0101/303240078/1064/UC+grabs+No.+1+juco+WR
Thompkins is considered by many to be the No. 1 junior college wide receiver in the country and had signed a letter of intent in December to play at Tennessee but never attended classes.
Not long after the ink dried on the legal document, Volunteer head coach Lane Kiffin left Knoxville to become the head coach at USC. The 6-3, 190 pound wideout with 4.4-forty speed reopened his recruitment.
Tennessee was reluctant to give the talented Thompkins a release but later relented.
After a nondescript high school career at Miami Northwestern High School which earned him a scholarship offer to only Morgan State, Thompkins blossomed at El Camino Community College catching 126 passes for 2,052 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons.
His play earned him scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, Florida, Oregon, California, UCLA and several other BCS institutions before he ultimately decided to be come a Bearcat.
Thompkins officially visited Cincinnati, Alabama, Tennessee and UCLA during the recruiting process.
Because Thompkins signed a letter of intent with Tennessee, he could not sign another national letter to attend Cincinnati. Instead, he signed grant-in-aid papers.
Since Thompkins graduated from junior college in December, he could enroll immediately at the University of Cincinnati and participate in spring football practices. He will be eligible to play in the 2010 season for the Bearcats.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100324/SPT0101/303240078/1064/UC+grabs+No.+1+juco+WR
